Just a Quickie!

  

I'm SO very late in posting something and I do apologize.  I know I promised you Holiday Knitting and Crocheting Part 4.....sweaters, but I have had a sudden onslaught of custom blanket orders. We are also getting ready for a Big Fat Greek Wedding and a custom made veil for the bride.  It turned out lovely and I'll post some photos next week!  

I have also been rushing to get this pattern written.  I designed this especially for me as I did not have anything in black.  I know, hard to imagine, nothing in black!!!!!

Anyhoo, here it is.  Midnight Granny Shawl with a pom pom fringe.

I must say that I DO love it.  Now, I am rather "fluffy", so it is quite large, but my petite daughter loves and wears it well, too.  The pattern includes a link on how to crochet the pom pom edge....so simple, yet very effective don't you think?

I love the size and could see this in so many different colorways.  Red shawl with black pom poms for our beloved college football team the Nebraska Cornhuskers!  I should have made one for the bride in her wedding colors of yellow and orange.  Not bright, but something in a more subdued hue. 

I love wearing it this way, off to the side.  Maybe it's a bit warm, but you don't want to carry it on your arm while shopping or walking.  I've seen Meryl Streep where her shawls this way in Out of Africa.

It almost looks like a coat here.  Arg!  I just noticed the big wet spot on the patio!  Good thing she wasn't standing right over it like she had a little accident!

Of course, wearing it in the traditional way is fine too!

Open weave, solid black, contrasting pom pom fringe....I love it!

Back next week with sweaters.  

Best,

Sheila

Find this and all my patterns at the top of this page in the heading bar or in my

Etsy shop

Craftsy shop

Ravelry shop

Annie's shop

Yarn tip:

Here's some US/UK abbreviations that are included in the pattern, courtesy of Craftsy

Granny in Spring

I posted last month about my Mohair Blanket with Daisies and I loved it so much, I crocheted another one!  Patons Lace Sequins in Quartz (2 skeins) and Peridot (5 skeins) and a J hook.  

The photo doesn't show the very subtle sparkles in this yarn.  It's just enough bling without being garish.  

No design plan here, just changing colors every so often.  It so reminds me of Spring or Easter time!  It would be a great baby girl gift for an April or May birth.

It's still a work in progress, but my plan is to crochet a simple, single crochet, edge.  Then, adding the Quartz daisies along the edge every so often.  I should have it done by next week.

I'm using the same daisy loom I used with the first blanket, only wrapping more times around to get a thicker flower.

If you're making pretties to add to your projects, using the same yarn, make them first, so you don't run out of yarn.  

Fringe all along the edge would be fun.

Would be cute as a photo prop too!  Drape it in an Easter basket with baby inside!

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

After hand washing your just knitted socks, and squeezing them gently, get out your salad spinner and "spin" the rest of the water out!  

Creative Designs by sheila

Mohair Blanket With Daisies

Do you ever knit or crochet something and think..."It's cute", but I want it to be REALLY cute!

This was one of those projects.  It happens to me all the time, whether I'm painting, upholstering, knitting, crocheting or whatever, I think, well, I don't really like it that much.  When I think that, it just means it's not finished.

So I added some daises!  I whipped these up in about 15 minutes or so with a Daisy Loom!  The yarn is lovely and from Mary Maxim called Seasons in Winter.  Two skeins, a J hook and one skein of some leftover Patons Lace in Vintage Antique for the edge.

I used my signature wooden button from Etsy for a center, but any store bought button would be darling.

I just tacked them on through the center with the yarn tail.  Scattered about like they had fallen on the blanket.

Some in the colored yarn and some in the solid.

So lightweight and pretty.  You could use any of your leftover mohair in various colors and it still would delight.

I've had this loom since the ice age!  I'm not sure they make them out of brass any longer, but I think you should still be able to find one in your local craft store.

They take about 30 seconds to make just one!  You turn the knob on the back so the spokes pop out, wind your yarn...

secure the petals with the tail...

turn the knob to retract the spokes...

and off pops the daisy!

I'm heading away for a hen weekend (girls weekend) tomorrow for some much needed girl time with a bestie!

I hope you are doing something fun and yarny!

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Ripping out mohair type yarn is a pain, to say the least.  Here's what I do to make the job much easier.  

Put your finger in the space between the stitches...

pull down...

then up.  Do the same all along the row.  It goes much faster!

Off The Hook...Summer Shawl

I'm a bit tardy in my posting.  Things come up in ones life that cannot be helped.  Sometimes they are happy things and sometimes they are truly heartbreaking.  Hooking up a comforting shawl is very good medicine for many and I am no different.  We lost a boy in our neighborhood to a fatal car accident.  He was speeding, lost control and crashed into a tree, then a pole.  He was alone and no other cars were involved.   

I live in one of those rare neighborhoods that can change ones life.  Over 25 children live in just a one block area of our house.  I'm hooking away as I recall......they go to school together, have Easter egg hunts, July 4th parades and picnic, Halloween trick or treating.  We all belong to the same neighborhood swimming pool.  They have gone to elementary, middle and high schools together.  They go to homecomings and proms together.  The hug each other as they go off to college and regroup when they return.  When each child turned 16, I told them....."put our phone number in your cel phone.  If you get into trouble, drink too much, need a ride late at night or whatever, call us.  We won't tattle.  You won't be in trouble".  When one is gone, it's devastating.  I wish David had called.

I also just turned 55 (hooking faster now).  I can hardly believe it.  Saying it sounds so old to me.  I can choose to love it or choose to hate it.  I choose to love it!  I have been through much in my 55 years.  I have had many a malady growing up.  I was a widow before I was 30 (that's another blog post) had three miscarriages before I was 40.  I'm overweight, I have bowel issues, and fibromyalgia can reek havoc!  

But I'm here, in all my glory!  I have a wonderful husband of 22 years and we have a lovely 21 year old daughter that has been a joy.  I have two brothers and two great sisters in law that take good care of them.  My parents are still living and I see them every week.  I have traveled my whole life all over this continent and across the pond and continue to do so.  I tell people that I'm 61......and they always say....."damn you look good"!  I'm keeping my weight on as it pushes out my wrinkles and keeps a chicken neck from forming!

I can't wait to finish my summer shawl.  It has been very soothing, much like the summer beach colors that run throughout.  Life is a rocket.  Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'!

The Summer Shawl yarn was brought to you by Mary Maxim Seasons in Summer.  I'm using a size G/4.0mm hook.

The pattern is Augusta Shawl by Andrea Mules.  You can find her FREE pattern here! 

Best,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

Leave your scissors at home when traveling by plane.  Take your dental floss container to cut your yarn!

On My Needles...Knitting in Technicolor

After the blog post and huge success of my four Technicolor Blankets to Crochet patterns (thank you so much, by the way), I had a fair amount of requests for the same look but blankets you could knit.  Who am I to deny a knitter?  So, I am translating them into knitting patterns.  This is the first in a series of four.  I had some comments from hookers that they could not find one or two of the colors from the crochet patterns, so for the knitting patterns I have substituted those hard to find colors for similar ones that are more readily available.  I should have this first of four patterns ready next week.

Thank you also for the HUGE response and lovely comments to my blog post... Cath Kidston Inspired Blanket!  I'd love to see photos of yours, so be sure to send me a snap shot!

You can find all my pattern shop links at the top of my blog or follow the links below!

Click here to find Technicolor Blanket pattern and Cath Kidston Inspired Blanket pattern on Etsy

Click here to find Technicolor Blanket patternand Cath Kidston Inspired Blanket pattern on Craftsy

Click here to find Technicolor Blanket and Cath Kidston Inspired Blanket pattern on Ravelry

Best,

Sheila

Yarn Tip:

Does a pattern call for worsted weight yarn and you only have sport weight in your stash?  Hold your sport yarn double throughout to get a worsted weight gauge of 5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch on US size 7 needles.

Cath Kidston/Greengate Inspired Bakeware and Blanket

If you're like me and LOVE everything Cath Kidston you will understand my joy at these incredible finds!  I let out a little squeal when I saw them, in a Michael's no less!  If you are in the USA, you should have one near you.  For my overseas followers, Michael's is a wonderful craft store.

Just LOOK at these measuring cups, dipping bowls and measuring spoons!  Doesn't it scream Cath Kidston?  I was like a little kid playing with the measuring cups.....stacking and unstacking them, admiring them, enjoying their lovely colors.  I found them in the isle where they have all the bins for things costing $1 - $5.00.  Not the bins in the front of the store where everything is $1.

 The spoons were $5.....and come in two different colorways.  Red and blue.  The little dipping bowls, in the 2nd photo, were $3.  The stacking measuring cups were $5.  All are ceramic, not plastic or melamine.

Of course, I then ran over to the yarn isle to pick out my colors for a baby blanket.  The pattern is ready to purchase from my Etsy shop!

I snatched up a few of each for future presents.  They also had big spoon rests and decent sized coffee mugs with the same designs.  If you are not familiar with Cath Kidston, find her site here.

Visit my Etsy shop
Craftsy shop

Till next time,

Sheila

Yarn tip:

When winding yarn from a hank, snip a little piece off and tape it to the yarn band.  Mark the label with any notes from your project.  You'll have a handy reference if you use that yarn again.

Food tip:

I use lemons all the time when I cook.  I love how they look in a bowl on the counter, but that is not the best way to store them.  They last 4 times longer when I store them in a ziplock bag in the fridge.